Aethelflaed, the Military Strategist
By the early tenth century, trouble with the Danes was once again on the horizon. Now, Aethelflaed came into her own. Aethelflaed’s ability as a military leader was something that her brother Edward found irksome. After Aethelflaed’s death, he made sure that the Anglo Saxon Chronicles downplayed the achievements of his sister and Mercia and emphasized his own. However, there is another source for Aethelflaed’s triumphs: “The Mercian Register” or ” The Annals of Aethelflaed.”Its text is fragmented, but its validity is confirmed by the fact that parts of it were incorporated into the Chronicles.
The Register makes it clear that Aetheflaed and Edward were at worst partners in their war against the Danes. However, Aethelflaed’s foresight in making preparations against Danish attacks also suggests a lead role. The situation had begun to escalate even before Aethelred’s death. Viking settlers expelled from Ireland tried to occupy land just outside Mercian Chester. Aethelflaed appeared to appease the Norsemen, giving them new land around the Wirral. However, she was actually stalling them while she made preparations. She was right. The Vikings attacked Chester in 907 AD but failed to breach the city’s walls due to Aethelflaed’s preparations.
The Lady of Mercia now began to strengthen her kingdom. She refortified Chester, Tamworth, Stafford, and Bridgnorth along the Mercian borders. Ten new fortified towns were also constructed, including the town of Warwick. Aethelflaed knew a further attack was just a matter of time. At the same time, she began to renew alliances, particularly with her brother in Wessex. Together, the combined forces of Aethelflaed and Edward started the re-conquest of old Mercian territories held within the Dane law. In 910AD, Aethelflaed finally made her name in battle when she led Mercian forces at The Battle of Tettenhall. The Danish troops were massacred, and three Viking Kings killed during the fight. Aethelflaed the warrior was born.
Aethelflaed went militarily from strength to strength. In 917AD, her troops regained the town of Derby, the capital of one of the Five Boroughs of the Dane law. This started the collapse of the southern Danish kingdoms. The following year, she liberated the ancient city of Leicester, and her army began to drive the Danes back further north. York was now under threat of being reclaimed by the Saxons. Terrified of losing their final stronghold, the Danes were just about to submit and come to terms when Aethelflaed fell ill. She died, possibly of dysentery in Tamworth on June 12, 918 and was buried next to her husband in St Oswald’s priory, Gloucester.
The Mercian nobility tried to stave off Wessex’s domination by elevating Aethelflaed’s daughter, Aelfwynn as their new Lady. However, Aelfwynn was no Aethelflaed. However, by the following year, Edward had usurped his niece and absorbed Mercia into Wessex. By incorporating his sister’s kingdom, into his own, Edward now acquired influence over most of England, laying the foundations for his son, King Athelstan to be proclaimed as the first “King of the whole of Britain.”
Where Do we get this stuff? Here are our sources:
The Woman who crushed the Vikings, Janina Ramirez, BBC History Magazine, June 2018.
Aethelflæd, Lady Of The Mercians, David Crowther, The History of England, 2011
Aethelflaed, Lady of the Mercians, Ben Johnson, Historic UK.
Aethelflaed, Encyclopedia Britannica Inc, February 13, 2017
The Woman who founded Warwick to stifle Vikings, Chris Upton, Business Live, August 8, 2014